Autographic register



June 19, 1928.

M. MACDONALD AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Nov. 1'7. 1921 INVEN TOR. if zm' lw'i J Zcd o 22a k1. B 1

ATTORNEY 1S Patented June 19, 1928.

IUBDOCK MACDONALD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER.

Application filed November 17, 1921. Serial No. 515,766.

The present improvements, relating as indicated to autographic registers, are directed more particularly to an improved type of register having improved means for registering the various'sheets of paper as they pass over the writing-table portion of the machine. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical section through my improved machine; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the ope-rating means for moving the sheets; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the sheets showing the central registering slots.

Mv machine in general appearance, is similar to the autographic' registers of the usual type in that it has a box-like casing 1, aoprovided' with a removable cover-plate 3, under which the paper strips 4, 5 and 6 are passed. The cover is open at the point 7, and a writing-table or support 8, is mounted beneath the paper at this point to serve as a firm support for the user in making whatever notes and memoranda are necessary on the uppermost sheet of aper. It will be understood that the usua carbon sheets are placed between sheets 4 and 5, and 5 and 6, these carbon sheets being passed transversely of the machine and held in suitable rollers or by other means which are not shown.

The paper is drawn through the machine and past the writing-table by means of rolls 9 and 10, which co-operate with each other to engage the papers and pull them forward upon rotation of the roll 10, by means of a suitable crank 11, and handle 12. After passingthrough these rolls, the two uppermost sheets of paper pass out over a support 13 and may then be torn off against an edge 14 on the cover, which is provided for that nirpose, the lower sheet 4 then being stored in the forward compartment or portion 15 of the casing. The machine asso far described, is similar to the usual autographic register,

versely of the machine.

and my improvements relate to the means for storing and feeding the sheets through the machine, together with means for maintaining sheets in exactregistration and for conveniently storing the lower sheet or strip of paper which is retained as a permanent record in the forward part of the machine.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that theroll 9 is provided with a recessed central portion 16, which lies opposite to the central portion of the roll 10, the latter roll being considerably shorter than the roll 9. Mounted in a recess in the outer wall of the roll 10, is a pivoted finger 17, rovided with a small lug 18 about which is disposed a coiled sprin 19, which operates against one of the wali s of the recess in which the finger is mounted. This finger 17 projects upwardly beyond the outer surface of the roll 10 and is adapted to engage in narrow registering slots 20 formed at equidistant intervals in the paper strips 4, 5 and 6.

At the ends of the roll 10, or rather, at the ends of the shaft 21, on which this roll is carried, cams 22 are rovided which engage against the ends 0 the shaft or roller 9, and actto lift this roller slightly away from the lower roller 10. The upper roller is lifted at a suflicient distance to permit the grip of the two rollers on the sheets of paper to be released at the same time that the finger 17 is brought up to enter the slots 20 in the strips of paper. The lifting of the roll 9 is made possible by mounting it beneath springs 23 which serve to normall maintain it in frictional engagement wit the roll 10.

In operation, the action of my machine is as follows. The handle 12 is turned to move the sheets of paper through the machine 'between the rollers 9 and 10, the strips of paper first havin been properly positioned with respect to t e rolls, so that the finger iii) 17 will enter the slots 20 in the strips of I paper. As the finger 17 is carried around by the roll and is about to enter the slots, the cams 22 lift the roll 9 and release the. pressure on the paper so that the movement of the finger into the slots may center the several sheets of paper and bring them into exact registration longitudinally and trans- The finger also serves to move these strips over the roll 10 until the cam 22 has released the upper roll and allowed the latter to again descend and grip the strips. The strips are of course taut during their movement through the machine, and upon passing through the rolls, the finger 17 is pressed downwardly into its recess in the roll 10 against the slight pressure of the spring 19.

Instead of employing the usual storage rolls for carrying the several strips of paper, I fold the three strips of paper together in zig-zag or fan fashion, as indicated in Fig. 1, the paper being sharply creased at each fold. As the three strips 4, 5 and 6, are drawn through the machine, the paper automatically unfolds from the storage space,

while the sharp creasing serves to cause the lower strip 4. to again automatically fold itself in the same manner after it has passed through the feed rolls. This lower strip is carried over a small idle roll 25 which is forward of the main feed rolls and is so positioned that each section of pa er has sufiicient space to fall clear and pi e itself in the manner shown in Fig. 1. At suitable intervals, the restored strip may be removed from the casing. The several strips are folded in the lengths which will be torn off upon each rotation of the handle 12, that is, each of the tickets or invoice slips is the length of one of the folds of the paper in the machine.

In machines of this character, it has 'always been a matter of considerable difficulty to maintain the exact registration of the strips as they pass through the machine and this is of course absolutely necessary, as otherwise, the printin of the .various strips will not be in registration and the memorandum which is noted on the uppermost sheet, will not be reproduced at the right places in the lower sheets. The present machine affords a very simple and ell'ective means for maintaining exact registra tion between the various sheets. Each series of tickets or slips are registered with each other as they pass between the feed rolls out of proper alignment as they pass between the rolls.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as re gards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the. equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a machine of the character described the combination of a feed roller, provided with a peripheral recess, a spring-pressed finger mounted in such recess and normally projecting radially beyond the same, a second roller, means norn'ially maintaining the same in co-operative engagement with said first-named roller, and means acting to space said second roller from said first-named roller when said linger passes the same.

2. In a machine of the character (.lescribed, the combination of a feed roller provided wvith a peripheral recess; a finger pivotally mounted in said recess about an axis parallel to said roller; a spring acting to keep said linger normally projecting beyond said roller; a second roller adapted to be normally engaged with said first named roller; and means acting to space said second roller from said first roller when said finger passes the same.

Signed by me, this 1st day of November, 1921.

MURDOCK MACDONALD. 

